Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Uddiyana Bandha on Glycaemic Control in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major metabolic disorder requiring long-term pharmacological treatment and lifestyle modification. Uddiyana Bandha (UB), a traditional yogic abdominal practice, may influence autonomic and metabolic function; however, evidence regarding its effect on glycaemic parameters in T2DM remains limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary effects of UB as an adjunct to standard oral hypoglycaemic therapy in individuals with T2DM.

Methods: A randomized pilot study with a parallel-group design was conducted among 24 adults with T2DM aged 35–60 years. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n=12) or a control group receiving usual care alone (n=12). The intervention group continued prescribed oral hypoglycaemic medication and performed supervised UB practice for 30 consecutive days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2-hour post-load glucose (2-hr PG) were assessed at baseline and after the intervention using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, consent, attendance, attrition, intervention and outcome-assessment completion, safety, and acceptability.

Results: In the UB group, FBG decreased from 195.26 ± 50.09 to 137.71 ± 32.68 mg/dL (p=0.001). The 2-hr PG decreased from 316.82 ± 91.64 to 236.11 ± 73.47 mg/dL (p=0.001). The control group also demonstrated reductions in FBG and 2-hr PG. However, the reduction in FBG was greater in the UB group than in the control group (57.55 ± 44.48 vs. 12.91 ± 16.61 mg/dL; p=0.004), as was the reduction in 2-hr PG (80.72 ± 63.03 vs. 38.73 ± 22.23 mg/dL; p=0.041). Recruitment was 70.6%, below the predefined 80% benchmark. Consent, intervention completion, and outcome-assessment completion were 100%; supervised attendance was 97.2%, with no attrition or adverse events. All participants in the UB group reported the intervention as acceptable.

Conclusion: A supervised UB intervention was feasible, acceptable, and well tolerated when provided as an adjunct to standard oral hypoglycaemic therapy. The preliminary findings indicate greater reductions in FBG and 2-hr PG compared with usual care alone. However, given the small sample size and short intervention period, these findings should be considered preliminary and require confirmation in a larger, adequately powered randomized controlled trial.